paulbonugli
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New PC won't boot from XP Boot Disk (ATAPI CD-ROM: No Emulation)
Hello all....
I've bought a brand new Sony VAIO desktop PC last week with Windows XP Home. Whilst the OS was already installed, I wanted to re-partition the HD to install SuSE Linux as well. Anyway, when I insert the XP boot disk (this is a Sony-branded bootable DVD) all I get is the error message in DOS (during startup):
ATAPI CD-ROM:
No Emulation
The machine boots fine from my Linux and Win98 boot CD's in the same drive. I've also downloaded and used the XP boot floppys but that just prompts me to insert a CD-ROM (it refuses to recognise the DVD). When Win XP was still installed, I tried using the boot disk and the autorun program opened a DOS window and then crashed with a string of error messages (illegal op's etc..) I thought it seemed like a dodgy disk, but the disk itself is physically OK and is read correctly on my mac and win98 PC (although setup won't run "not a valid Win32 application" but that's just presumably cos it will only run under XP). Seems unlikely that the contents of the disk are faulty, or that the drive is in some way incompatible since this is a brand new machine. I've checked the BIOS settings, and they are set to Toshiba DVD drive (these are the default settings).
Since this seems to have stumped the Sony technicians, I wonder if any of you guys have any suggestions. Thanks in advance for any input!
I've bought a brand new Sony VAIO desktop PC last week with Windows XP Home. Whilst the OS was already installed, I wanted to re-partition the HD to install SuSE Linux as well. Anyway, when I insert the XP boot disk (this is a Sony-branded bootable DVD) all I get is the error message in DOS (during startup):
ATAPI CD-ROM:
No Emulation
The machine boots fine from my Linux and Win98 boot CD's in the same drive. I've also downloaded and used the XP boot floppys but that just prompts me to insert a CD-ROM (it refuses to recognise the DVD). When Win XP was still installed, I tried using the boot disk and the autorun program opened a DOS window and then crashed with a string of error messages (illegal op's etc..) I thought it seemed like a dodgy disk, but the disk itself is physically OK and is read correctly on my mac and win98 PC (although setup won't run "not a valid Win32 application" but that's just presumably cos it will only run under XP). Seems unlikely that the contents of the disk are faulty, or that the drive is in some way incompatible since this is a brand new machine. I've checked the BIOS settings, and they are set to Toshiba DVD drive (these are the default settings).
Since this seems to have stumped the Sony technicians, I wonder if any of you guys have any suggestions. Thanks in advance for any input!
allthough it wont install to another machine have you tried bootup with this cd in one of the other machines may be just a funky copy
what I mean is assumeing this is a regualer restore cd for that sony and the other machines will read it just to test try bootup in one of the other machines and see if you maybe get the same error or anything for that matter
did this toshiba dvd drive come in this machine ? reason for asking is lots of restore cd's simply wont work if the original hardware has been changed no emulation i'm thinking simply means its not seeing/reading the cd could be wrong
ASKER
no... I can't test booting in the other machines since one is a Mac (and thus can't boot into Win XP) and the other running Win 98 does not support booting from a DVD. The DVD drive did come in the machine, along with a separate CD-ROM drive. I have not changed/upgraded the machine in any way, or attatched any other peripherals!
pordon me for asking simple questions but all I have to go on is what info your posting you said your 98 machine can read this dvd so must assume it has a dvd drive installed because a regualer cddrive will not read a dvd really rather confuseing as I've never ran across a restore cd that was a dvd rather than a regualer cd you didn't say did you try the other cddrive
ASKER
hey.... didn't mean to offend... sorry if you took my reply the wrong way - I do appreciate your comments on the matter, and I can see that it is a sensible suggestion - I was merely pointing out why it wasn't practical. I'd never come accross a restore DVD previously either! I don't have a boot CD, only a DVD, so I can only use the DVD drive, and not the CD drive... if that makes sense!
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ASKER
already tried fdisk from a win98 boot floppy - it doesn't support hd's over 60gb (mines 80) but it reformatted what it could, and made no difference. At first I assumed that setup would load after a while - but I left it an hour and still no joy.
Cheers for continuing to reply... here's the specs:
Sony Vaio Desktop RS123
2.6 P4 processor
256 mb ram
80gb hd
CD-ROM drive
DVD-RW/CD-RW combo drive
and it's brand new!
Cheers for continuing to reply... here's the specs:
Sony Vaio Desktop RS123
2.6 P4 processor
256 mb ram
80gb hd
CD-ROM drive
DVD-RW/CD-RW combo drive
and it's brand new!
Hi
You say you booted with the win 98 CD, but this CD is not bootable!.
Also you say you have another CD-ROM that is not install, install the CD-ROM drive and try that, making sure you go into the BIOS and changing the boot settings from DVD to CD-ROM.
I've never herd of a bootable DVD, OS come on normal CD ROM CD's, I really think you shoud try the CD-ROM drive.
Also look to see if your new PC came with a driver for the CD-ROM or DVD drive, these should be bootable, so they will boot and install the drivers for the drive's.
H
You say you booted with the win 98 CD, but this CD is not bootable!.
Also you say you have another CD-ROM that is not install, install the CD-ROM drive and try that, making sure you go into the BIOS and changing the boot settings from DVD to CD-ROM.
I've never herd of a bootable DVD, OS come on normal CD ROM CD's, I really think you shoud try the CD-ROM drive.
Also look to see if your new PC came with a driver for the CD-ROM or DVD drive, these should be bootable, so they will boot and install the drivers for the drive's.
H
there is a new version of fdisk you have to download for drives over 64 gig do a search on google for it
looked around quiet a bit it seems several companys are now useing dvd restore disk :>) didn't see any thing concerning problems so must assume yours is simply a bad copy possiably also didn't see anything about any special steps taken useing these restore disks does your manual say anything about restoreing ? any special steps maybe.... there may be a way to break this dvd image down to where you could use the files ISO buster may work and burn the files to another cd maybe borrow a friends copy of xp and simply use your number is one other option
maybe use your 98 cd to install to this machine and then see what you can do from within windows on this machine sony may send you another dvd maybe (just guessing and listing possiable options )
maybe use your 98 cd to install to this machine and then see what you can do from within windows on this machine sony may send you another dvd maybe (just guessing and listing possiable options )
one last thought I did see a problem elsewhere on this site concerning restore cd not working and the problem was the harddrive wasn't setup right so take that for what its worth
try the new version of fdisk and set the drive up maybe sense the drive isn't formated right the restore cd isn't seeing it and the drive letters aren't what its setup file says it should be in other words if the partition isn't active and formated the bios wont list the drive so the cd drive letters change from D and E to C and D (hope that makes sense :>)
ASKER
@ Huseyin1
Whilst I appreciate you are trying to help:
"You say you booted with the win 98 CD, but this CD is not bootable!."
well I beg to differ. I *HAVE* booted from the Win 98 CD. And it must be bootable or you could never use it to install the OS on a new PC.
"Also you say you have another CD-ROM that is not install, install the CD-ROM drive and try that, making sure you go into the BIOS and changing the boot settings from DVD to CD-ROM."
not sure what you mean by this remark... I have already said that the machine includes both a DVD-R/CD-R drive and a CD-ROM drive. Both are already installed. I can't see how changing BIOS settings to booting from CD-ROM when I am booting from a DVD will help.
"I've never herd of a bootable DVD, OS come on normal CD ROM CD's, I really think you shoud try the CD-ROM drive."
well... I'm not stupid... and this is a 2.3gb DVD. You can't fit 2.3gb on a CD-ROM. It's a DVD and that's what came with the PC so it must be possible to get a bootable DVD - I've got one. Like I said... I'm not stupid... a DVD will not work in a CD-ROM drive. And yes... just to make sure... I have just tested it, and the PC boots from the HD since it can't detect the boot disk.
"Also look to see if your new PC came with a driver for the CD-ROM or DVD drive, these should be bootable, so they will boot and install the drivers for the drive's."
It didn't.
@ trekie1
thanks for the comments I'll try the new fdisk. I hope Sony will just be able to supply a new DVD but @ the mo they are still just telling me to reset the BIOS - as if I haven't tried that a zillion times already!
Whilst I appreciate you are trying to help:
"You say you booted with the win 98 CD, but this CD is not bootable!."
well I beg to differ. I *HAVE* booted from the Win 98 CD. And it must be bootable or you could never use it to install the OS on a new PC.
"Also you say you have another CD-ROM that is not install, install the CD-ROM drive and try that, making sure you go into the BIOS and changing the boot settings from DVD to CD-ROM."
not sure what you mean by this remark... I have already said that the machine includes both a DVD-R/CD-R drive and a CD-ROM drive. Both are already installed. I can't see how changing BIOS settings to booting from CD-ROM when I am booting from a DVD will help.
"I've never herd of a bootable DVD, OS come on normal CD ROM CD's, I really think you shoud try the CD-ROM drive."
well... I'm not stupid... and this is a 2.3gb DVD. You can't fit 2.3gb on a CD-ROM. It's a DVD and that's what came with the PC so it must be possible to get a bootable DVD - I've got one. Like I said... I'm not stupid... a DVD will not work in a CD-ROM drive. And yes... just to make sure... I have just tested it, and the PC boots from the HD since it can't detect the boot disk.
"Also look to see if your new PC came with a driver for the CD-ROM or DVD drive, these should be bootable, so they will boot and install the drivers for the drive's."
It didn't.
@ trekie1
thanks for the comments I'll try the new fdisk. I hope Sony will just be able to supply a new DVD but @ the mo they are still just telling me to reset the BIOS - as if I haven't tried that a zillion times already!
no, the win 98 CD dont have to be bootable to install the OS, what you do at the prompt is you type D: and then setup.exe, which means it's not bootable, anyway this is what I have done in the past.
Also I dont remember calling you stupid in any of my post's...
Maybe this bootable win 98 OS CD thing is new, I dont have much money so I dont have any of the latest IT goodies, I'm sitting here in front of a IBM 300GL PC 3gig HDD and a PI i think, so excuse me for not being up-to-date. All I said in my post above was I've never herd of this DVD thing, I did'nt say dont be stupid no such thing.
H
Also I dont remember calling you stupid in any of my post's...
Maybe this bootable win 98 OS CD thing is new, I dont have much money so I dont have any of the latest IT goodies, I'm sitting here in front of a IBM 300GL PC 3gig HDD and a PI i think, so excuse me for not being up-to-date. All I said in my post above was I've never herd of this DVD thing, I did'nt say dont be stupid no such thing.
H
ASKER
apologies... I didn't mean to offend... I posted here looking for solutions and not an argument. Thanks for your input... I was only pointing out that I was sure the recovery disk is a DVD, and as such would not work in a CD-ROM drive.
yes of course, and i am here to help. I was offended but im ok now.
H
H
ASKER
thanks
ASKER
thanks
I will phone Sony again this afternoon!
I will phone Sony again this afternoon!
paulbonugli:
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ASKER
Sony finally resolved a problem with a BIOS update and replacement recovery DVD. The problem apparently affected all machines of this model.
Thanks to you both for your suggestions in this matter.
Thanks to you both for your suggestions in this matter.